The guests

An hour ago, a massive round airship with dark green paint was crossing the blue sky, approaching the East District Academy. In it was a noble merchant from the southeast empire. Along with him were his acting assistant and some youths from the empire's academy.

Inside her office, a woman in her 50s with black and grey hair was staring at a holographic screen in front of her when she heard knocking sounds on the door.

Knock! Knock!

Her fingers stopped working. Then she glanced at the door. Before responding, she made sure to turn off the screen by tapping on a switch that was on a digital keyboard.

—Tonk!

The holographic screen immediately disappeared.

"Yes. Come in," she said to permit the person behind the door to come inside. After receiving her permission, the door was deliberately pushed open. Then, a middle-aged woman in decent attire came in.

She bowed slightly. Then, she stated her reason for coming without beating around the bush.

"Headmaster Lalaine, the merchant's airship from the Euro Empire is nearing to dock on the landing post."

Hearing that, "Is that so?" The headmaster asked, then instinctively looked through the window. She saw a big dark airship in the sky above the academy.

After a couple of seconds, she returned her gaze to the person in front of her.

"Assistant Ann, please notify Secretary Cecil to welcome them and bring them to the Arena Coliseum. And also, please send someone to let Commander Guren of the Mech Soldier Department and Commander Beth of the Mech Engineering Department know about the arrival of our guests…" she paused for a moment before she continued saying, "Uhm, be sure to tell them they must prepare our best mechs and best mech pilots. Even if it was just a mock battle, we can't lose overwhelmingly if ever our fighters did lose," the headmaster instructed.

The Headmaster was well-aware of how advanced the empire's technology was. On the contrary, the academy's technology had no breakthrough at all. They were still using those old variants.

"Yes, headmaster. I'll be relaying your message right away." After bowing slightly again, she intended to leave, however, "Wait, Assistant Ann…"

Ann paused and looked back at the Headmaster. "Yes, headmaster, is there more?"

"Uhm, yeah. Also, please tell Head Instructor Goji that if there's no hope to win, maybe we need to seek help from that kid…"

Ann tilted her head to the side, wondering what the headmaster meant about 'that kid'. Who is the kid the headmaster meant? Regrettably, the headmaster did not say any more than that.

"T-that's all."

"O-okay."

Ann bowed her head again before she left the room to convey all the headmaster's messages to everyone.

Sometimes later,

Walking in a long hallway with smooth and shiny green, yellow, and blue marble tiles were the wealthy merchants from the southeast empire. He was a round man about 50-55 of age. His dark brown medium hair was neatly combed in a parted style. He was wearing a pair of expensive green suits. While caressing his curly beard, he also could not help laughing.

Along with him were three youths and one adult, two boys and one girl, from the empire. They were around Cross' age. The adult was around 30 years old but his facial appearance looked like he was 20 only. Under his adventurer white hat were his long gray hair that was tied at the back, almond silver eyes, and thin lips. He was wearing a pair of white suits, looking somewhat neat and clean.

The beard of the merchant suddenly trembled from a sudden laugh. "Hahaha! You kid, be sure to overwhelm your foes. Show them that our war machines are the best. We need to break their spirit so that they have no way to compete with our products. Also, they will be forced to buy our products if they want to win in the coming competition."

Hearing that, the adult showed a cunning smile. "Hehe. Always a wily move, Mister Bernard. You've truly embodied a true merchant's wisdom. No wonder you're the most successful one among them. Don't worry, these kids are one of our empire's best pilots in the empire's academy. They will trample these students here."

"Fufu. I like that. However, don't forget about that Valhalla Of Death thing, Assistant Kuryue."

"Oh, Dark Reaper, huh? About that… in fact, it's just a legend, Kuku!" The gray-haired man laughed. Then he continued saying, "I'm pretty sure the western alliance just invented it, so as not to lose faces after their loss in that war. In regards to the Dark Reaper… there's no such thing as that." His eyes were smiling as he said those lines.

"Really?"

"Yes. I read an article in the empire's library that our beloved emperor sent a group of elites to aid the Eastern Alliance in that war. Those elites came back without a scratch on them. They were the real reason for the Western's defeat," said the gray-haired adult.

"Ooh~ so that news is true?"

"Of course. If you think about it carefully, there's no way a single mech can obliterate a battalion of soldiers, no? That's just so impossible. It won't happen even in a dream. Maybe they can fool those people before, but to this day, that folklore is just too old. It had been a decade already. That kind of myth won't sell in this age."

"T-true… damn! Those western and this eastern… they really fooled everyone!" Merchant Bernard clenched his teeth in anger. It could also be seen that his face was twitching.

He looked at everyone.

"Listen, kids! Punish these liars! I can't forgive them for fooling me and everyone in all those years. If not because of Assistant Kuryue here, I will not be enlightened from it."

"Of course!"

The three youths answered in unison, their eyes looked more motivated. They also could not forgive the Eastern Alliance for not honoring their elites in that war. After helping their asses at that war, they just forget it? Ungrateful people!

A youth with orange hair in a 'Neymar hairstyle' stepped forward and said, "Don't worry, Mister Bernard, we'll not forgive them even if they beg," he said in a serious tone.